Diana Henry s secret cancer: My son said, If you only have two years, we ll make them the best
When Stella’s food writer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, she decided not to tell anyone. Here, she finally shares her story
23 May 2021 • 6:00am My lockdown year was bookended by serious illnesses
Credit: Chris Terry
My lockdown year was bookended by serious illnesses. It started with cancer and ended with an autoimmune disease. Cancer could have killed me, the type of vasculitis I have nearly did (for 48 hours my life hung by a thread).
It was June 2019, not long after I’d appeared on stage at Stella Live. You’re told that if you’re experiencing pain it’s unlikely to be cancer. Not in my case. My left breast hurt so much I had to hug a pillow to get to sleep. The GP thought it was mastitis and offered antibiotics. I’ve had mastitis, lain in bed in agony with cold cabbage leaves shaped around each breast. This wasn’t mastitis. I did too much googling a